New car registrations up 17% this year with Hyundai out in front

New car registrations in November were down on the same month last year but the overall market for the year remains up 17 per cent. There has been 146,175 new cars registered this year, up from 124,460 in the same 11-month period last year.

As the motor trade prepares for the new 171 registration period, November is traditionally a quiet month for new car sales and last month just 748 new cars were registered, compared with 940 for the same month last year.

Figures for the year to date show Hyundai has a slight lead over Volkswagen in terms of sales.

The Korean brand has recorded 15,434 registrations up to the end of November, compared with 15,398 for Volkswagen. Toyota is in third place with 15,272.

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Best-selling car

Hyundai’s success is largely based on the popularity of its Tucson crossover, which is Ireland’s best-selling car this year, recording 7,422 new registrations, well ahead of the VW Golf with 5,009.

According to Alan Nolan, director general of the Society of Irish Motor Industry: "2016 has seen the highest levels in new vehicle registrations since 2008, even with the challenges of Brexit in mid-year and the slowing down in the last couple of months.

“Overall, it has been a good year for our industry and all indications look that registration numbers are on track to deliver in the region of 147,000 this year as predicted.”

Mr Nolan predicted 2017 would see similar sales as this year, a view shared by many others in the trade. Expectations are that uncertainty over Brexit and the global economic situation will limit any chance of sales growth next year.